Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[heth1986]

I am new to Omlet, new to Chickens and now the proud new owner of 3 lovely blue silkie hens

 

The ladies moved into their new house yesterday and seem to have settled in rather well however, despite me having a brand new chicken house, clean bedding, shavings etc, there seems to be an awful lot of flies hovering around.

 

Are there any natural fly repellants / remedies I could try before it gets much worse?

 

Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

[witzend]

I think most people will say a bit of citronella oil on a rag nearby or spraying with citronella/eucalyptus oil in water........ I'm trying this cos I've still to get my chooks but I must say it's not really working to keep the flies away from anything the dog does!!

[Egluntyne]

You could try a Red Top fly catcher or a Flitrap, either of which can be bought online.

[BarbaraJ]

the trouble with a flytrap is you need a huge garden to place them far enough away from the chickens and house. I'm struggling with flies at the moment too!

[witzend]

I'm just waiting for mine to come - think I'll be ok - if not, I might as a neighbour to hide it in her tree x

[mummychicken]

I had the same trouble with flies around my chooks last summer and bought the redtop fly trap. It worked really well!!!

[Henergy]

I had some earlier in the year, but not too many at present but maybe because its been raining continuously for a few days

[heth1986]

Thankyou all for your advice!

 

I've purchased a Red Top and it's worked an absolute treat I was getting a bit paranoid as my neighbour has his greenhouse up the end of his garden (pretty much next to the girls) and I didn't want the flies to be causing him a problem.

 

Highly recommended to anyone else who's having fly issues!

[foreveryoung]

I thought you would put the trap in the area where you have a problem (like in the chock run)???????

[Snowy]

The red top attracts flies, so if you put it too near your run, it will attract them too it. Place it away from the run and it attracts them away from the run

[foreveryoung]

The red top attracts flies, so if you put it too near your run, it will attract them too it. Place it away from the run and it attracts them away from the run

 

OOOooooooh

[reneepren]

The flies were much much worse for us this spring so I purchased beneficial insects called fly predators. They are shipped every two weeks. They are some sort of wasp that lays its eggs in the fly larvae so they never hatch. I think the market here in Arizona is generally people with horses. After a few weeks to get going, it has made a huge difference. A bit pricy but worth it to me. I hate flies! And the fly traps were not effective for me.

 

Renee

[jennym]

They are some sort of wasp that lays its eggs in the fly larvae so they never hatch

 

Wow, that's a nice solution. I'll keep it in mind as a horsey person and chicken-owner

 

Do you know if the wasps will sting? Could be a problem in a crowded urban environment, especially if any neighbours are allergic .

[reneepren]

I got the fly predators online here

 

http://www.arbico-organics.com/category/fly-control-program

 

never yet a problem with stinging....have used another wasp for years to control tomato horn worms, got those from Gardens Alive! Very effective, no stinging. Fun to watch in the garden and help pollinate the plants.

 

Not sure where you would get them across the pond!

 

Renee

[emmastar]

I got a small red top type trap from work for a ew quid and its doing brill so far im super happy with it .

[HH HENS]

I have hung up a red top fly catcher today. I was reading Practical Poultry the poultry vet Victoria Roberts recommended it. I will let you know how I get on as the flies are driving me mad too !